Auxiliary air valve

ABSTRACT

The present auxiliary air valve controls admission of supplementary air to the fuel mixture of an internal combustion engine responsive to special demand. The device is comprised of a pair of body elements assembled to provide a valve housing with opposed inlet and outlet ports accommodating a suction displaceable valve normally spring-biased externally of said housing into flow-blocking abutment with the inlet port. The housing is expandable and contractable to vary the spacing of the ports and the degree of spring bias is also independently adjustable, thus affording control over both the minimum level of vacuum at which the device opens to admit auxiliary air to the intake manifold, and the maximum level of vacuum at which the supply of such air will then be reduced.

United States Patent Hansen [451 July 18, 1972 [54] AUXILIARYAIR VALVE v Poul E. Hansen, lslington, Ontario,

[72] Inventor:

Canada [73] Assignee: Emisco, lnc., c/o Carrick, O'Connor, Coutts & Cranne, Toronta, Ontario,

Canada [22] Filed: Dec. 21, 1970 [2]] Appl. No.: 100,085

[52] [1.8. CI. ..l23/97 B, 123/124 R, 137/480 [5 l Int. Cl ..F02m 23/00, F02d 9/00 [58] Field of Search 1 37/480; 123/97 B, 124 R, 119 D [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,242,942 3/1966 Gould ..l37/480 "Atlamey--Leon Arthurs ABSTRACT The present auxiliary air valve controls admission of supplementary air to the fuel mixture of an internal combustion engine responsive to special demand. The device is comprised of a pair of body elements assembled to provide a valve housing with opposed inlet and outlet ports accommodating a suction displaceable valve nonnally spring-biased externally of said housing into flow-blocking abutment with the inlet port. The housing is expandable and contractable to vary the spacing of the ports and the degree of spring bias is also independently adjustable, thus affording control over both the minimum level of vacuum at which the device opens to admit auxiliary air to the intake manifold, and the maximum level of vacuum at which the supply of such air will then be reduced.

6Clainn,7Drawlngl1gures Patented July 18, 1972 INVENTOR E HA/Vff BY 23m Mm ATTORNEY AUXILIARY AIR VALVE The present invention relates to an air valve attachable to an internal combustion engine for adding auxiliary air to the fuel mixture delivered from the carburetor of the engine to the intake manifold thereof on demand.

The present valve is a variant of that disclosed in co-pending U.S. Pat. Application Ser. No. 72,074 filed Sept. 21, 1970 by Frederic J. Kinna; the invention disclosed in that application and that disclosed in the present application having a common assignee.

Various devices of this nature appear in the prior art. In general such devices are automatically actuable to admit air as aforesaid, when demanded by a vacuum exceeding a predetermined minimum developed in the engine intake manifold. Such vacuum may develop when the engine is running with the throttle closed as, for example, during idling of the engine or, more particularly, during extensive decelerative rungs of the vehicle driven by the engine at which time the vehicle is effectively driving the engine with its throttle closed.

In addition to admitting auxiliary air to the intake manifold on demand as aforesaid, devices as herein visualized have also been designed to close oif or, otherwise curtail such supply of auxiliary air, when the vacuum exceeds a pre-selected maximum level so as to avoid excessive leaning out of the fuel mixture delivered to the engine during, for example, extended decelerative runs thereof as described.

A broad object of the present invention is to provide an auxiliary air metering valve for flow-connection to the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine and which is capable of being adjusted to vary not only the minimum level of vacuum at which it will admit auxiliary air as aforesaid but also the maximum level of vacuum at which the supply of such air will be substantially curtailed.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a said device wherein the adjustment means aforesaid number two at least and are actuable independently of one another so that the device may be set to match the characteristics of the particular internal combustion engine to which it is fitted.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a simple, effective, easily-manufactured valve suited for easy installation. The subject valve is further characterized by ease of assembly during manufacture and ready adjustment in use.

In accordance with the invention, the subject auxiliary air valve includes a hollow valve body having a pair of opposed ports therein respectively serving as an inlet for ambient atmosphere and an outlet which is. flow connectable to the intake manifold of the engine. A valve element is disposed within said body for movement between said ports and into flow-blocking abutment with one of them, at least, said valve element being resiliently biased towards the inlet port. Biasing and adjustment means for varying the conditions under which the valve element will lift off the aforesaid inlet port under the influence of vacuum applied at the outlet are disposed externally of said valve body and the level of vacuum at which the valve element will substantially reduce the amount of air delivered through said outlet is largely controllable by expansion and contraction facilities incorporated in said valve body for varying the spacing of the inlet and outlet ports.

One important distinction between the KINNA device aforesaid and the present invention subsists in that the valve element is the only moving or movable element contained within said valve body. Other distinctions will be obvious.

In the preferred form of the invention, the valve element is resiliently biased as aforesaid by means of a coiled compression spring disposed externally of the body and one adjustment means enables variation of the bias which it applies to the valve element whereby to vary in turn the predetermined minimum level of vacuum at which the valve element will lift off the inlet port; the means for varying the spacing between the two ports being independent of the adjustment of the said resilient bias applied to the valve element.

Other features of the invention will become apparent from the hereinafter following description of the parts, principles and elements thereof given herein solely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration in side elevation of a typical automobile internal combustion engine equipped with a subject auxiliary air supply valve;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the valve of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an axial section of one embodiment of the auxiliary air supply device shown in FIG. 2 along the line IlIIII of FIG. 5 with the valve element therein being illustrated in its initial inlet closing position when no suction is applied to the outlet and when the degree of aspiration applied thereto is no greater than a predetermined minimum;

FIGS. 4, 6 and 7 are sectional views through the valve chamber body at the base portion of the valve shown in FIG. 3, and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the present valve along the line V-V of FIG. 3

In FIG. 1 there is shown a conventional internal combustion engine 10 equipped with an auxiliary air supply valve 12 constructed in accordance with the invention but shown schematically in this view. The engine 10 is equipped with an airfuel intake system which includes an intake manifold 14 and a carburetor l6 surmounted by a conventional air filter 18 which serves to filter the air supplied to the intake manifold 14 in a well known manner. As will be understood, the subject valve 12 is operable to admit ambient atmospheric air to the intake manifold 14 under the influence of vacuum therein created during the running of the engine 10 and is illustrated in the drawing in its simplest form as having its inlet end 20 connected to the air filter 18 and its outlet end 26 connected by a conduit 28 to a suitable flow connector 30 in the intake manifold 14.

The subject valve 12 is illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 2 to 7 inclusive and, in this embodiment, includes a composite body 32-33 defining therein a valve chamber 34 served by an ambient air inlet passage 36 extending from said inlet 20 to an inlet port 38 in the chamber 34. Said outlet 26 communicates with outlet port 48 which also opens into chamber 34 in spaced relation to inlet port 38.

A valve element 52 is floatably contained in said chamber 34 for movement between the ports 38 and 48 and into engagement with one of them, at least, specifically the inlet port 38 to block air flow therethrough. It will be observed that valve element 52 is shaped to seat alternately in each said port 38 and 48 to occlude it and block air flow therethrough.

The space between ports 38 and 48 is, normally, sufficient to permit the valve element 52 to assume an intermediate position between inlet and outlet ports 38 and 48 as in FIG. 6 in which outside air is freely permitted to enter chamber 34 through inlet port 38 and to flow out of it through outlet port 48.

As shown in the drawing, body parts 32-33 are respectively interiorly and exteriorly threaded not only for interattachment purpose but also to render them telescopably adjustable whereby to vary the spacing between the inlet and outlet ports 38 and 48 substantially as indicated in the split longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 3 wherein body part 33 on the righthand side of this view is lowered relative to the corresponding part on the left-hand side.

Thus, the adjustment of body parts 32-33 controls the reciprocal scope of valve element 52 and, to that extent its action as well, having regard to the fact that the effort or suction required to move it a greater distance exceeds that required for shorter travel.

Resilient biasing means 54 is located externally of the chamber 34 acting on the stem 55 of the valve 52 which projects through port part 53 for biasing it to close or block inlet port 38 as in FIG. 4 when the degree of aspirating suction applied to outlet 26 of valve 12 is no greater than a predetermined minimum. When this degree of minimum aspirating suction is exceeded, however, it overcomes the bias of resilient means 54 effecting closing inlet port 38 and effects disengagement of valve element 52 from port 38 as in FIGS. 6 and 7 thereby permitting atmospheric air to enter into chamber 34 in an understood manner.

Preferably, the valve element 52 does not move into proximity with outlet port 48 until the aspirating suction exceeds another pre-selected elevated degree, i.e. a preselected maximum level. As this latter level is approached, the valve element 52 moves near enough to the outlet port 48 to limit the amount of aspirated air'permitted to flow out of chamber 34 (see FIG; 7) and, when and if the pre-selected maximum level is obtained, the valve element 52 can seat on the outlet port 48 and remain so seated until the degree of aspirating suction drops below the pre-selected maximum. Although the valve element 52 herein is described and illustrated as capable of moving into flow-blocking abutment with the outlet port 48 when the aspirating suction exceeds the preselected maximum as aforesaid, it may not, in fact, be desirable that the air flow be shut off completely. For this reason resilient O-ring R may be installed between body parts 32-33 as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 to limit the telescoping thereof and, hence, ensure a minimum separation between inlet and outlet ports 38 and 48;

It is usually possible to pre-estimate the maximum suction which may develop in the intake manifold 14 and the minimum separation between the ports 38 and 48 can there fore be scaled pursuantly.

To permit adjustment of the initial biasing force created by the biasing means 54 herein shown in spring form, an adjustmentelement such as nut 56 is threadly secured to the stem 55 which may be provided with a slot or recess 57 receiving a screwdriver (not shown) for effecting or facilitating accurate adjustment of the biasing means 54. Preferably said nut 56 is squared or otherwise shaped to allow sufficient air flow between inlet 20 and its port 38.

To facilitate the adjustment of one body portion 33 to the other body portion 32 the external surfaces may be provided with hexagonal or other suitable sections, to receive wrenches.

Moreover, it will be observed that, in the present embodiment, inlet 20 is formed in a cap member 60 which is screwed onto body part 32 and covers dotted end 57 of valve stem 55.

In operation, valve stem 55 is rotated in nut 56 to increase tension of spring 54 to hold valve element 52 seated in inlet port 38 under normal conditions.

Conversely, when suction of sufficient magnitude is developed in intake manifold 14, it will communicate to and act on valve element 52, to draw it off its seat in inlet port 38 whereupon supplementary air will flow from air filter 18 through inlet 20, passage 36, inlet port 38, chamber 34, outlet port 48 and outlet 26 and their associated connectors and conductors into intake manifold 14. When the intake suction has been fully satisfied and drops below the pre-selected minimum, its pull on valve element 52 will be overcome by the tension of spring 54 whereby said valve element 52 will retire to its seat in inlet port 38.

Conversely, if the suction persists to and exceeds the maximum level pre-selected, it will draw valve element 52 towards engagement in outlet port 48. However, the body parts 32-33 are preferably dimensioned to ensure that the spacing between inlet and outlet ports 38-48 will always be sufficient to prevent complete seating of valve element 52 in outlet port 48 vunder the maximum, suction capable of being developed in the intake manifold 14, it being the function of the O-ring interposed between body parts 32-33 to ensure maintenance of such spacing;

What I claim is: l. A valve device for admitting auxiliary air to the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine comprising: a first body part of double-ended construction having an air inlet passageway therethrough; a valve seat formed on said first body at one end of said air inlet passageway; a port at the juncture of said air inlet passageway and said valve seat;

a valve seatable on said valve seat to block air flow through said air inlet passageway;

an elongated double-ended stem disposed in said air inlet passageway with one of its ends protruding through said port and fixedly engaging said valve;

an abutment adjustably engaging the other stem end adjacent the other end of said air inlet passageway;

a spring contained at least partially in said air inlet passageway and engaged between said first body part at said port and said abutment biasing said valve to seat on said valve seat;

a second body part having a port and telescopically engaged with said first body part at its valve seat end to form a chamber for said valve, the ports of said first and second body parts constituting inlet and outlet ports, respectively, for atmospheric air flowing into said valve chamber through said air inlet passageway about said spring and out of said valve chamber into said intake manifold, said second body part having an outlet end communicating with its outlet port and connectible to an intake manifold;

said valve being movable in said valve chamber between said ports and being resiliently responsive to suction developed in said intake manifold to be drawn towards the outlet porttfrom said inlet port against the bias of said p g;

said abutment being adjustable on said other stem end adjacent the end of the air inlet passageway remote from said valve chamber to increase and decrease the bias of said spring to vary the responsiveness of said valve to suction as aforesaid while said valve device is operatively connected to the intake manifold aforesaid.

2. A valve device as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said abutment is threadedly secured to said other stem end.

3. A valve device as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said second body part is threadedly secured to said first body part rendering them adjustable relative to each other to vary the spacing between said inlet and outlet ports.

-4. A valve device as defined in claim 1 and further includa cap member engaged with said first body part at the other end of said air inlet passageway and providing a housing for said other stem end; said cap member having an opening for admitting ambient air to said air inlet passageway.

5. A valve device as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said other stem end includes means for receiving a tool for efiecting accurate adjustment of said abutment.

6. A valve device as defined in claim 5 further including:

a cap member engaged with said first body part at the other end of said air inlet passageway and providing a housing for said other stem end; said cap member having an opening for admitting ambient air to said air inlet passageway and said opening being in axial alignment with said tool receiving means. 

1. A valve device for admitting auxiliary air to the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine comprising: a first body part of double-ended construction having an air inlet passageway therethrough; a valve seat formed on said first body at one end of said air inlet passageway; a port at the juncture of said air inlet passageway and said valve seat; a valve seatable on said valve seat to block air flow through said air inlet passageway; an elongated double-ended stem disposed in said air inlet passageway with one of its ends protruding through said port and fixedly engaging said valve; an abutment adjustably engaging the other stem end adjacent the other end of said air inlet passageway; a spring contained at least partially in said air inlet passageway and engaged between said first body part at said port and said abutment biasing said valve to seat on said valve seat; a second body part having a port and telescopically engaged with said first body part at its valve seat end to form a chamber for said valve, the ports of said first and second body parts constituting inlet and outlet ports, respectively, for atmospheric air flowing into said valve chamber through said air inlet passageway about said spring and out of said valve chamber into said intake manifold, said second body part having an outlet end communicating with its outlet port and connectible to an intake manifold; said valve being movable in said valve chamber between said ports and being resiliently responsive to suction developed in said intake manifold to be drawn towards the outlet port from said inlet port against the bias of said spring; said abutment being adjustable on said other stem end adjacent the end of the air inlet passageway remote from said valve chamber to increase and decrease the bias of said spring to vary the responsiveness of said valve to suction as aforesaid while said valve device is operatively connected to the intake manifold aforesaid.
 2. A valve device as defined in claim 1 wherein: said abutment is threadedly secured to said other stem end.
 3. A valve device as defined in claim 1 wherein: said second body part is threadedly secured to said first body part rendering them adjustable relative to each other to vary the spacing between said inlet and outlet ports.
 4. A valve device as defined in claim 1 and further including: a cap member engaged with said first body part at the other end of said air inlet passageway and providing a housing for said other stem end; said cap member having an opening for admitting ambient air to said air inlet passageway.
 5. A valve device as defined in claim 1 wherein: said other stem end includes means for receiving a Tool for effecting accurate adjustment of said abutment.
 6. A valve device as defined in claim 5 further including: a cap member engaged with said first body part at the other end of said air inlet passageway and providing a housing for said other stem end; said cap member having an opening for admitting ambient air to said air inlet passageway and said opening being in axial alignment with said tool receiving means. 